27. araştırma sonuçları toplantısı 3. cilt - Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı

Carved from a single marble block, it is 2.19 m. wide and 1.33 m. deep front to
back. The block lay just inside the rear wall of the podium. The decoration of
the pediment consists of a single row of dentils located on both front and sides
of the block, horizontal and raking cornice, and sima with a cyma reversa
profile. At the center of the pediment is an image, possibly that of a sun
disk with emanating rays, although it has suffered considerable damage to
warrant positive identification.
On the underside of the block, which has suffered apparent fire damage,
are two identical recessed panels with moulded edges. There is no indication
of sculpted decoration within the panels.
The block appears originally to have been integrated into the wall as
internal decoration and, based on its position near the back of the podium,
likely was placed high on the rear wall of the temple. The large size of the
block precludes the likelihood of it standing without support. One may
therefore reconstruct two columns helping to support the pediment at its
corners. No column fragments, capital, or base have yet been found that
might have belonged with the pediment. A likely purpose for such a large
internal aedicular pediment would be to serve as a monumental architectural
frame for a cult statue placed against the rear wall.
Removal of the blocks lying near the rear wall of the temple allowed
the crane close access to the podium in order to clear the upper platform
of architectural debris. After the blocks were transported away from the
podium surface, all remaining debris and shrubs were removed leaving only
a thick layer of soil, deposited evenly over the top of the mound. Ground
Penetrating Radar (GPR) was then employed within a grid pattern to search
for underground anomalies.
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Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Scanning
One of the key components of the 2008 season involved an initial
investigation into the composition and condition of the temple platform. This